Lost for 68 years, Benjamin Britten’s Roman Wall Blues has been recorded and released for free download.

British record company NMC has released a free download of Benjamin Britten’s Roman Wall Blues, a bluesy, cabaret-style song with hints of Gershwin. The work was written to be performed as part of WH Auden’s radio play Hadrian’s Wall, which was aired on November 25, 1937.

The original radio broadcast along with Britten’s music was lost, but in 2005 a handwritten copy of the work’s vocal melody was discovered as being in possession of a then 99-year-old former employee of the Bank of England, who had been part of the local choir brought in to sing it in the original broadcast.

Roman Wall Blues has been recorded by vocalist Mary Carewe and pianist Huw Watkins for NMC, with the missing piano part rewritten by Britten’s former assistant Colin Matthews. It is an interesting example of Britten’s early forays into the world of cabaret composition, and stands as testament to his talent as a songwriter.

Roman Wall Blues is available here for free download.